Tony and Loki's dance turned to a slow one. "Good job babe, you did great. Does Sif even know how to dance?"
"She does. All members of the court are required to learn even if they are quite resistant to the notion." Loki rested his cheek against the side of Tony's head. "Should she not be here soon? She does understand the importance of this?"
"She does, just relax."
"Well, I am here. Let us get this over with." Sif walked in sporting full Asgardian warrior gear.
Loki laughed heartily. "Sif you are leaning to dance, not going into battle." Waving his hands in her direction, Sif appeared in workout apparel.
"Loki!" Her hands going to her hips. "If it wasn't for Steven I would—"
Giving her a haughty stare. "You would what?" Sighing he pleaded, "I pray you Sif, for Steven, only for him. He leaned today and is very good at it. Even though you abhor it, dancing is something he always wanted to learn. Plus, it would ruin all of Anthony's hard work for his surprise."
Sif looked resigned. She hated dancing. "Fine. At your command Stark."
"That's the spirit Toots! You know what your problem is? You just haven't learned the right kind of dance yet. This is how they danced back in Spangles time before he became a Capsicle. Just think about how happy it will make him that he can dance with his best gal. And not Loki."
Sif glared at the green eyed god.
"Well who else was going to teach him? Really Sif, stop being contrary."
"Sir, Miss Evelyn has woken from her nap."
"Thank you Jarvis. Do not abuse my Anthony." Loki swiftly left the hall in order to collect his little one.
"Alright goddess, ready? Now just so you know, I will have to touch you, but totally don't mean anything by it." Tony gave his disclaimer before the music started.
"I am aware, Anthony. I would kill you where you stand if you thought to dishonor Loki in such a manner." Sif pulled her hair up in a leather thong.
"Glad we are on the same page. Ok, let's get this show on the road. Loki trained Rogers well. Let's get you up to par."
Sif was amazing. Difficult, but amazing and graceful and did he mention difficult. But a perfectionist and wouldn't stop until she learned each move expertly.
Tony let her in on their surprise for Steve. She volunteered to help with whatever was needed. Tony said her only job was to make sure he was at the cabin in Lake Tahoe on the 23rd wearing his Class A's.
Jormungandr came to collect them for dinner, Evelyn on his hip. They had celebrated hers and Aaron's second birthday three weeks prior in typical Stark style; over the top.
Tony held his hands out when Jormungandr set her on her feet. Evelyn toddled over to him. "Daddy!" She squealed when he swooped her up and tossed her in the air. Snuggling close she giggled when Tony's whiskers rubbed her cheek.
Evelyn was quite intelligent for a two year old. The combination of Loki and Tony's genes no doubt produced another genius. She could speak full sentences, although had trouble with pronouncing their whole names. She could count to one hundred and sixty-four and finish puzzles in lightning speed. She was an extremely curious child and got into everything. But she didn't do it alone. Aaron was her partner in crime and was also smart as a whip. Loki once said it was no doubt due to Jane's brilliance. This started a wrestling match between brothers that had managed to know out a wall and three windows. Tony chided them both, telling them to take it outside next time. Both gods when laughed sheepishly when Loki said it was a bit of fun, snapping his fingers putting everything right again.
Both children had all the Avengers eating out of their hands. They seemed to have their own special way of communicating as well. Something that took Jarvis about a month to figure out. Tony had told him. "Jay, you're slipping old man." To which Jarvis had a snappy comeback about processors and only being as fast as Sir's outdated software allowed.
The four came unto the lounge where Fenrir and Loki sat discussing an old tome Frigga had brought them on her last visit. Evelyn squirmed in Tony's arms. "Daddy down, daddy 'ok's." Tony put her down and she ran over to Loki crawling into his lap. She watched rapt as Fenrir produced multi-colored bubbles for her entertainment. She began calling Loki 'daddy ok's' after hearing Tony calling him Lok's one to many times. Tony said it was better than 'daddy babe'. Loki replied that for his sake he hoped she never started calling him that.
At that moment, Aaron comes barreling into the room as fast as his stubby little legs will carry him. Thor chasing after him roaring like a wild animal.
"Evie hide, monster." Aaron squealed and ran around Loki trying to hide from his father. Thor pretended not to see him and called his name. The little boy giggled, so did Evelyn putting her chubby hands over her mouth. Thor left and it got quiet. "Uncle Ki, Papa gone?" Aaron poked his head out from around Loki's arm.
"Shhh, you must be very still and quiet or he will find you. He is pretending so you will come out and then snatch you up." Loki spoke in a conspirator tone. Aaron nodded, his eyes wide open and wedged himself between Fenrir and Loki covering his eyes.
Evelyn poked her head over Loki's shoulder. "He can still see you."
"Ok, hide with me." Together they huddled under a blanket by the god's feet.
Thor prowled around the couch growling lowly. The bundle stilled and giggled softly. The thunder god made a show of stomping around. "I smell little baby feet." He snorted around the blanket as both toddlers screamed and giggled. Thor snatched off the blanket and began tickling them both.
"Fenni help!" Evelyn squeaked between tittering fits.
"What would you have me do, Evie?" The boy grinned.
"Sloppy kissy!"
Fenrir got to his feet. "As you wish." Shifting to his wolf form he leapt at Thor knocking him away from the tots and on his back, where he commenced on giving his uncle a slobbery tongue lashing.
"Nephew…Norns, Fenrir, I yield!" Thor laughed heartily. "I yield!"
The wolf let Thor up as Aaron and Evelyn crowded Fenrir. Aaron crawled on his back with his sister patting his giant head. "Good boy, Fenni!" Fenrir's tail thumped loudly against the ground.
Steve popped into the living area. "Ok guys, dinners on the table. Everyone wash up." He glanced at the wolf. "Do you need yours put in a bowl?"
Fenrir gave a disgruntled whine as Jormungandr plucked little ones from his back, chuckling lightly. Taking his human form once again, "Haha, Steve."
Steve smiled good-naturedly.
Everyone left besides Loki and Tony. Tony had sat behind him as Thor played with the children. Loki leaned against his leg as tony carded his fingers through his hair. Loki hummed contently. "Do you think it will work?"
"Of course it will."
"Loki laid his head against his leg. "How are we going to get everyone in the same place by Christmas? You know Clint, Natasha and Slepnir are off in the Ukraine and will be there for quite some time."
Against his will and better judgement Loki did eventually 'signed off' on Slepnir working with Shield's elite spies. With conditions he laid out in full to Fury (whom he still was not thrilled with) along with several life ending threats should anything happen to his son, to include razing Shield to the ground. He made it very clear that Slepnir was their responsibility since they were the ones who encouraged all this. Natasha swore on her like to look out for him. That was good enough for Loki.
"Don't worry, babe. They'll be back in time and they will have everything they need to play their part."
"When does Jormungandr start at Stark Industries?" Pepper had enlisted his help one day to organized several boxes of files. The serpent devised a system to make everything easily accessible with computer cross references when needed. Something that should have taken the better part of a week, he finished in two days. Pepper immediately decided she needed him on her staff.
"I take him suit shopping tomorrow. He starts on Monday." Tony twiddled with a lock of Loki's hair. "Pep has sent him several programs to familiarize himself with before he starts. We stopped by SI two days ago so he could check out the building and meet the staff. Every floor we went he places runes on, several in Pepper's office. I think he will do well."
Loki nodded. "It is a good thing to keep him busy and not fussing over us anymore. I hope Lady Pepper realizes she now has a personal bodyguard as well as a PA."
"He seems excited. I think they will make a great team. Kids' smart and savvy, just what my CEO needs." Tony bent down and kissed the top of Loki's head.
"Hey lovebirds, dinner is getting cold." Steve fussed.
"Yes, Mom." The said in unison and roamed into the dining room.